A Young Guns defendant was convicted in a drive-by shooting death of a Florida teen.
After a three-day trial, a Flagler County jury found Young Guns defendant Stephen Monroe guilty as charged of First-Degree Murder with a Firearm. Immediately following the verdict, he was sentenced to mandatory life in prison for the crime.
On the evening of January 12, 2022, Monroe, who was only 23 years old at the time, was a passenger in a vehicle with two other young men.
Eventually, the driver of the vehicle, Devandre Williams, stopped at the intersection of South Anderson and East Booe Street in Bunnell. The other passenger, Tyrese Patterson, then got into an argument with Terrell Sampson, who was outside. When Williams started to drive away, Sampson shot at the vehicle.
Williams intentionally returned and slowly proceeded through the intersection while Monroe and Patterson fired several rounds back.
Unfortunately, an innocent bystander, 16-year-old Noah Smith, was shot in the hip during the drive-by shooting and died from his injuries at the hospital.
“I met some of Noah’s family shortly after this tragedy occurred. I am grateful we were able to hold the individuals responsible for his death accountable,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “We are relentless in our quest to rid our communities of those who engage in gun violence. They deserve nothing less.”
The case was investigated by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Bunnell Police Department. Assistant State Attorneys Mark Johnson and Jason Lewis successfully tried the case for the state. The Honorable Dawn Nichols presided over the case and pronounced sentence.
Williams and Patterson were also charged in Smith’s death. Last year, Williams pleaded to Second-Degree Murder and was sentenced to 55 years. Patterson also pleaded to Second-Degree Murder and is facing 25 to 50 years in prison. He is set to be sentenced on March 26, 2025.
